03 June 2013

chocolate hazelnut cupcakes

If you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram, first of all, you totally should. It is a non-stop thrill ride. Second, you would have seen the Nutella craze I was having the last day or so. These cupcakes are absolutely ridiculous. This is a classic yellow cake recipe with just a little bit of cocoa powder and hazelnut extract added. The cupcake is subtle so that the Nutella frosting can take center stage. As for the frosting...I just scooped it out of the jar and added some nuts.

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time (you can save your egg whites for breakfast tomorrow!), then stir in the vanilla and hazelnut. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly tapped. Cool them 15 minutes before turning them out onto cooling racks.

I just spread a little Nutella on these and dipped them in chopped nuts (they don't have to be hazelnuts). It is super easy and super attractive!

Around here we're moving into our new house, I'm getting situated in my new job and life is generally pretty cray. (Yes, spellcheck, I see you.) It was great just to be able to bake and not have to worry about anything else for a couple hours.